Poyglot grammar
Samuel Barnard
Poyglot grammar or Hebrew, Chaldee, Syriac, Greek, Latin, English, French, Italian, Spanish and German languages reduced to one common rule of syntax
Philadelphia
1825
Preface 15
Grammar 53
47
Shall, bears evident marks also of high antiquity: it is derived immediately from the Hebrew שאל , to ask, enquire, demand. It expresses the expectation of the mind as to future events. A man immersed in water, and in fear of death, says, “I shall be drowned.” Another, with authority, says, “I shall expect this at your hands.” It is to be found in the Anglo-Saxon, sceal, as generally signifying volition, obligation, injunction, &c.
The distinction between will and shall is both important and peculiar to the English. Their meanings are confounded or rather inverted by the French; and the Scotch are not free from error in this matter. The Greek, with the Latin and its dialects, remedies the evil partially; by generally, though not without exceptions, using the verb in the future, to express what we intend by shall; and use a verb of wishing joined to the verb, where we use will. An instance of eacg, from the Greek must suffice; in Matth. chap.i. ver.21, it is written, τέξεται δὲ υἱὸν, καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰεσοῦν, justly translated, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus.” In I. Corinth. Chap. X. ver. 1. it is written, Οὐ θέλω δὲ ὐμᾶς ἀγνοίειν , translated, “I would not that ye should be ignorant.” From the tenor of these two passages, I hazard a conjecture, that in matters of prophesy, as is clearly the case from the quotation in Mathew, one verb only is used, expressing our future shall; in matters of precept, two verbs are used, expressing our future will. I leave it as a conjecture, it may often apply, and often not.
On the use and power of letters 56
308
Errata
311
Index
Poyglot grammar or Hebrew, Chaldee, Syriac, Greek, Latin, English, French, Italian, Spanish and German languages reduced to one common rule of syntax
Philadelphia
1825
Preface 15
Grammar 53
47
Shall, bears evident marks also of high antiquity: it is derived immediately from the Hebrew שאל , to ask, enquire, demand. It expresses the expectation of the mind as to future events. A man immersed in water, and in fear of death, says, “I shall be drowned.” Another, with authority, says, “I shall expect this at your hands.” It is to be found in the Anglo-Saxon, sceal, as generally signifying volition, obligation, injunction, &c.
The distinction between will and shall is both important and peculiar to the English. Their meanings are confounded or rather inverted by the French; and the Scotch are not free from error in this matter. The Greek, with the Latin and its dialects, remedies the evil partially; by generally, though not without exceptions, using the verb in the future, to express what we intend by shall; and use a verb of wishing joined to the verb, where we use will. An instance of eacg, from the Greek must suffice; in Matth. chap.i. ver.21, it is written, τέξεται δὲ υἱὸν, καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰεσοῦν, justly translated, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus.” In I. Corinth. Chap. X. ver. 1. it is written, Οὐ θέλω δὲ ὐμᾶς ἀγνοίειν , translated, “I would not that ye should be ignorant.” From the tenor of these two passages, I hazard a conjecture, that in matters of prophesy, as is clearly the case from the quotation in Mathew, one verb only is used, expressing our future shall; in matters of precept, two verbs are used, expressing our future will. I leave it as a conjecture, it may often apply, and often not.
On the use and power of letters 56
308
Errata
311
Index